Mohamed is a five-year-old boy from Mali. He lives with his parents and two older siblings. Mohamed's problems started when he began to experience swelling and discomfort in the roof of his mouth. Over time, the swelling worsened, prompting his family to visit our medical partner's care center, Hôpital du Mali. Doctors discovered a mass on the roof of Mohamed's mouth, which was investigated and found to be a nasopalatine duct cyst. These cysts are non-cancerous, but carry several risks if not removed. If the cyst is allowed to continue to grow, it could displace Mohamed's teeth and put pressure on his nasal passage, causing difficulty eating and breathing normally. Nasopalatine duct cysts can also become infected, causing further pain. Fortunately, Mohamed is scheduled to undergo cyst removal surgery on September 8th. Our medical partner, Muso, is requesting $1,120 to cover the total cost of Mohamed's procedure and care. Mohamed's parents shared, "Once the cyst is removed, we hope that Mohamed will be able to resume his daily activities free of the uncomfortable symptoms. We hope the swelling will be gone."

Phally is 42 years old and a father of two from Cambodia. His wife is a garment factory worker, and their two children are currently in Grades 10 and 5. In his free time, he enjoys making toy cars for his children. He previously worked as a truck driver, but his health condition has forced him to stop working. Phally first began experiencing pain in both hips about six years ago and was diagnosed with avascular necrosis (AVN) in 2022. This condition occurs when the blood supply to the bone is reduced, causing the bone tissue to become damaged. Over the past two years, his pain has become much worse. The condition has progressed particularly in his left hip, where the bone has collapsed. His left leg is now shorter than his right, making walking and moving around increasingly difficult. As the pain has worsened, Phally has become dependent on a walking frame for support and struggles with everyday activities. Phally was referred to our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC). On November 3rd, he will undergo a left total hip replacement (THR) to relieve his pain and improve his mobility. Phally and his family can contribute $100 and need support to cover the remaining $1,400. Phally said, “I hope the surgery will reduce my hip pain and help me walk normally again. I miss being able to work and take care of my daily activities without depending on others. My biggest wish is to regain my independence and return to driving a truck when I am able.”

Chhuong is a 45-year-old construction worker from Cambodia. He is married and lives in Prey Veaeng Province with his wife, who manages household duties and takes care of their three children, all of whom are students. In his free time, he enjoys planting vegetables around his home. In April 2024, Chhuong sustained a left distal femur injury following a fall from stairs, resulting in a fracture in his left distal femur. He previously underwent surgical fixation of the left distal femur with a plate and screws in a hospital in Thailand to stabilize the fracture and promote healing. About six months after the surgery, he slipped and fell again. Since then, he has been experiencing left thigh pain for the past six months, associated with loosening of the implant. The condition has caused difficulty in walking, and he currently relies on crutches for mobility. It significantly affects his daily activities and work capacity. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, can help. On June 10th, Chhuong will undergo a hardware removal procedure, which will help relieve pain, reduce discomfort, and improve mobility, allowing him to walk more comfortably and return to his normal daily and work activities. He can contribute $50, but needs help raising $328 more to fund his procedure and care. Chhuong said, “Today, I hope the surgery to remove the hardware goes well. I look forward to the next steps in my treatment so that my pain can improve and I can walk more comfortably again.”